Improvement in paint-cans



JpF. DRUMMOND. Improvement in Paint-Cans.

21 2. N0 127,034. Patented May ,187

larly with reference to paints.

. closely replaced again.

Urrnn 'ra'rns JAMES F. SDRUMMOND, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAINT-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 127,034, dated May 21, 1872.

Specification describing an Improvement in Cans for Paint and other Materials or Liquids, the invention of JAMES F. DRUMMOND, of the city, county, and State of New York.

The improved can which is the subject of this invention is mainly designed to hold paints as mixed for use, although it is equally applicable to other purposes or uses. The same, however, will here be described more particu- The invention consists in a novel construction of the can at its mouth, and in a lid made to fit the mouth, whereby tightness is obtained without any liability to stick, and every facility is afforded for reclosin g the can.

In putting up paints and various other fluid and semi-fluid substances in cans it is important that said vessels should bettight orhermetically sealed; hence soldered cans are com; monly used, inasmuch as 'it has been found difficult to fit cans with lids which would be tight and yet permit of their removal and close replacement again, although the best can, and one most to be desired, is acan which can be reclosed, so as to obviate drying up and waste of the contents. Ordinarily, covered cans cannot be made tight, owing to the inequalities in the surfaces coming in contact, and the difficulty and expense of making an air or liquid tight joint by placing two metallic surfaces together. To make such cans commonly tight the covers must fit very closely and have a deep or long bearing. After standing awhile the inner surfaces are liable to oxidize by the action of the material within the can, or by the action of the atmosphere, thereby making it very difficult to remove the cover. In my improved can .the cover is made to barely touch the body of the can, or only just enough to keep it in place, and, when closed, the top edge of the body is caused to embed itself in a rubber or other suitable cement which is insoluble in the material contained within the can, thereby obtaining a perfect joint without any liability of the lid sticking, and which may be opened Without damaging the can and the lid be The construction, too, is a very inexpensive one, the lid not costing more than an ordinarilysoldered head, inasmuch as it may be struck and shaped from the blank by a single operation.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, Figure 1 represents or closed, barely touches the body, for which purpose the lid is of a form that will cause it only to bind on the lower portion of the mouth, or on the body where it joins the tapering mouth. Said lid, which may be struck and shaped from a blank by a single operation, is formed with a hollow bead 0r groove, 0, in or around its top, the mouth of the groovebeing on the inside, and so that when the lidis closed the upper portion of the mouth I) of the can will enter freely within the groove. This groove I fill, or partly fill, with rubber cement, or glue and molasses, or other mixture insoluble in the material contained within the can, so that the top edge of the body or mouth of the can will embed itself within such filling and make a tight joint, the contracted shape of the mouth of the can providing for its entry within the cement without any liability of detaching it from the groove.

When the can is designed to contain eatables, the cement may be composed of glycerinc and gelatin; but I do not restrict myself to any one or more kinds of cement.

This forms a very simple and effective coverone, in conjunction with the contracted mouth of the can-body, that meets all the requirements hereinbefore specified.

Said lid may be kept in position by a hinge and strap or other suitable fastening. A metal strap or tongue, (1, however, soldered to the edgeof the lid in front, and arranged to pass through a metal loop, 0, soldered to the can-body, constitutes a very desirable fastening, the lower end of the strap, after its bear only 011 the enlarged portion of the tapassage through the loop, being turned up, if pering mouth, or on the body of the can at desired, over the latter. its junction with the mouth, substantially as What is here claimed, and desired to be sespecified.

cured by Letters Patent, is- J AS. 13. DRUMMOND.

The combination of the contracted mouth Witnesses:

b of the can with the cement-holding groove FREDK. SAUNDERS, J12,

c in the lid when said lid is constructed to WM. HARRIS. 

